Method of and machine for closing flexible containers



Jan. 1, 1935. CARTER 1,986,043

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR CLOSING FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 4, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Jan. 1, 1 935. e. CARTER 1,986,043

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR CLOSING FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 4, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 1, 1935 PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR CLOSING FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS Gilbert Carter, Brooklyn, N. Y., minor to Royal Baking Powder Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 4,1931, Serial No. 561,192

acclaim,

This invention relates to a method of and a machine for closing flexible containers and more particularly to a mechanism utilized and a method followed in closing bagsof paper or the like 5 material.

A general object of the invention is the provision of a simple, sturdy and eillcient mechanism of the class described which will operate rapidly and efllciently to close food material containing bags over long periods of time with freedom from thelikelihood of getting out of order.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanism to securely close bags containing finely divided or powdered food material by a folding and crimping action to obtain simple, rugged and substantially sift-proof closures without the necessity of using ancillary holding means or of rupturing the edges or the walls of the bag mouths.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a method of closing bags which is simple in. attainment and is characterized by such folding and manipulating operations as to result in sturdy and substantially sift-proof closures.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others, and the apparatus embodying features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which are adapted to eifect such steps, all as exemplified in the following detailed disclosure. and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature an objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the mechanism at the first station with parts in section and parts broken away; showing the relative position of an open-mouthed, filled bag with respect to the mechanism during the first of the closure forming operations to be performed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the open-mouthed bag shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the structure depicted in Fig. 1 showing the relative positions of the mechanism and the bag in the second step of the closure forming operations.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bag and closure thereof formed in accordance with the operation depicted in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the structure depicted in Fig. 1 showing the relative positions of the mechanism and the bag in the third step of the closure forming operations.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the bag and the closure thereof formed in accordance with the operation depicted in Fig. 5.

Fig. '1 is an elevational view of the mechanism at the second station with parts broken away, showing the bag positioned for the next step in the closure forming operations.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the structure depicted in Fig. 7 showing the relative positions of the mechanism and the bag in the fourth and final step of the closure forming operations.

Fig-9 is a perspective view of the bag and the completed closure thereof, formed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 10 is an end view of the filled and closed bag positioned in a carton with the end of the carton removed to show the relative positioning of the bag in the carton.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of part of the machine showing the relationship in the completed assembly of the bag closing mechanisms at the first and second stations.

In the art of packaging powdered or finely divided food materials, such as gelatin, various machines have been developed for forming bags from sheets of wax paper or the like, filling them with the finely divided food material and closin the filled bags by flattening together the side walls of the top and securing them conjointly. Such bags have been made either with the folded corners of the sheets lapped on the inside or the outside of the resulting bags and for the purpose of obtaining a secure seal, resort has been frequently had to the use of staples or stitches or to the mutilation of the edge portions of the bags so as to obtain an interlocking of the opposed sides. Machines for performing such operations are of necessity complicated and, due to their many working parts, are likely to get out of order frequently.

The present invention contemplates the use of the bag forming andillling features of the prior art butprovides noveland efllcient bag closing mechanism which may be readily combined therewith or, in fact, installed on machines now in use in lieu of the closure forming mechanism with which such machines are equipped.

, Throughout the drawings like reference numerals refer to like parts. In Fig. 1 the bag closing mechanism at the first station is shown. Three jaws, 11, 12 and 13, for performing two of the bag closure forming operations, are shown in their initial positions. An open-mouthed filled bag 14 is shown in position against the stop 15 with folding fingers or end tuckers 16 and 16 engaging the ends 17 and 18,.respectively, of the open mouth of the bag. In this position the sides 19 and 20 of the open mouth of the bag are adjacent the jaws 11 and 12, respectively. The jaws 11, 12 and 13, the stop 15 and the end tuckers 16 and 16 are mounted on operating structure of the machine by any suitable means. This operating structure is not shown since it constitutes mechanism well known in the prior art and forms no part of the present invention.

The jaw 11 has a substantially vertical face 21 and a T-shaped head 22, which will be termed a rail, transversely disposed. This rail comprises two oppositely disposed wedge-shaped portions 23 and 24. Adjacent the vertical face 21, the wedge-.

shaped portion 23 has a slanting face 25. The wedge-shaped portion 24 has a lower slanting face 26 and an upper face which, together with the upper face of the wedge-shaped portion 23, forms a horizontally extending surface 2'7.

The jaw 12 is provided with a transversely extending face 28 substantially parallel to the face 21 of jaw 11, a transversely extending notch 29 adjacent the face 28 and a projecting portion 30 having a lower face 31.

The jaw 13 is disposed above the jaws 11 and 12 and is provided with a transversely extending notch 32. Adjacent this notch is a transversely extending face 33 adapted to coact with the face l2:t:f the rail 22 of jaw 11, as will be explained As is shown in Fig. 5, the jaw 13 ispivoted at 34 to the arm 35-which is pivotally mounted on the machine frame (not shown) by means of pin 36. An arm 37, also mounted on pin 36, is actuated from the machine mechanism by means of arm 38 pivoted thereto at 39. A member 40 links the arm 37 to the jaw 13, as shown, being pivoted to the arms 37 at 41 and the jaw 13 at 42. The member 40 is preferably provided with U-shaped members 43 and 44 at each end, with 43 straddling the arm 3'! and 44 straddling the projecting portion 45 of the jaw 13. The shank portion of this member 40 may be provided with adjustable means such as, a turnbuckle, if desired, such that the length thereof may be properly adjusted. The U-shaped member 44 is mounted on the projecting portion 45 by means of a pin 46 which may project'on one or both sides to engage the end or ends of one or more spring members 47 anchored to the arm 35 at 48, portion 49, made integral with the arm 35, being provided for this purpose. 1 The operation will be more fully described in connection with an explanation of the bag closing operations.

In Fig. 7 the bag closure forming mechanism at the second station is shown. A pair of jaws 50 and 51, preferably formed from copper, are mounted on a support 52 in spaced relation to each, one above the other. The jaw 50 is fixed to "the support52 by any suitable means and jaw 51 is pivoted at 53 to the support. The pivoted jaw 51 is fitted with a suitable bolt or pin 54 to cooperate with a stop 55 on the support 52 to govern the spacing of the jaws 50 and 51. These jaws are held in spaced relation to each other by any suitable yieldable means. such as, the spring 56. The jaw 50 is provided with a slanting face 57, the purpose of which will be explained later, and jaw 61 is provided with an overhanging end 58 having a slanting cam face 59. Jaw 50 is provided with a transverse rib set back from the lip of the jaw to serve a purpose set forth later.

Adjacent the jaws 50 and 51 'a member 60 is suitably mounted on operating mechanism of the machine. This member is provided with a horizontally projecting portion 61 disposed opposite to the space between the jaws 50 and 51 and an arm 62, extending above the portion 61, upon which is mounted a cam rider 63 adapted to cooperate with the cam face 59 of jaw 51.

The jaws 50 and 51 are provided with suitable heating means, as, for example, the resistance elements 64 and 64', respectively. Their purpose will be set forth later.

In operation, an open mouthed bag 14, filled with powdered or finely divided material, such as gelatin, is delivered, by a suitable conveyor (not shown) operated in a channel guide '10, to that which is termed the first station, against the stop 15 between the jaws 11 and 12. The machine operates the end tuckers 16 and 16 through suitable mechanism to fold or tuck inwardly the ends of the paper bag into the shape shown in Fig. 2. These ends tuckers are maintained in this position while the other folding operations performed at the first station are carried out. Jaws 11 and 12, disposed adjacent the sides 19 and 20, respectively, of the bag, being mounted on suitable operating mec of the machine, are moved toward eachother in the direction of the arrows to press together the sides of the open mouth bf the bag. In their extreme position, shown in Fig. 3, the surfaces 21 and 28, therwedge-shaped portion 23 and the notch 29, and the upper surface 2'! of the rail 22 and the surface 31 of the jaws 11 and 12, respectively, have cooperated to press together the opposed sides of the bag top and to form a transverse crease 66 therein. The shape of the bag after these operations have been performed is shown in Fig. 4.

The jaw 13 is then moved toward the bag top through an arc in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, being carried by arm 35 pivoted about the pin 36. Although the jaw 13 is pivotally mounted on the pin 36, movement relative to the arm 35 is resisted by the spring member 4'1, such that movement of the arm 38 to the left will pivot arm 35 downwardly until it engages a suitable stop (not shown) causing arm 35 to assume the predetermined position shown in Fig. 5. Further movement of the arm 38 to the left then overcomes the resistance ofthe spring member 4'! and thejaw 13 is pivoted at 34 by movement to the left of the arm 37, link member 40 and the projecting portion 45 of the jaw 13, such that the notched face of the jaw approaches the rail 22 of the jaw 11. The transverse notch 32 of the jaw 13 cooperates in the extreme position with the transverse wedge-shaped portion 24 of the jaw 11 to clamp between the cooperating surfaces 26 of the jaw 11 and 33 of the jaw 13 the portion 67 of the flattened top of the bag, thus forming a transverse crease or fold 68 therein.

These jaws 11, 12, and 13, are then moved to their initial positoin, leaving the bag with a partially formed closure, as depicted in Fig. 6, upon the conveyor, which is now operated to carry the bag along the channel guide 70 to the second station, as shown in Fig. 11.

The mechanism shown in Fig. 7 completes the bag closure at the second station where the bag 'is stopped against the stop 15', between the jaw carrying support 52 and the member 60, with the overhanging portion of jaw 51 overlying the flattened bag top portion 67- and the free end 69 of the top of the bag lying adjacent the slanting face 57 of the jaw 50. The member 60, mounted upon suitable operating mechanism of the machine, moves toward the bag, the projecting portion 61 engaging the flattened bag top adjacent the creasefold 66 and forcing the flattened portion 67 between the spaced jaws 50 and 51, thereby lapping the free end 69 under the portion 67 with the former lying adjacent the latter. Upon further movement of the member) toward the support 52, the rider 63'contacts with the cam face 69 of the jaw 51 to force the latter toward the jaw 50, thereby clamping the folded portions 6'7 and 69 of the bag top between these jaws, the transverse ribs 65 adjacent the fold 67 crimping the bag top along the fold 68 more flrmly, as shown in Fig. 8, to insure substantial permanency -of the relative positions of the crease-folded portions of the bag top.

The heating of the jaws 50 and 51 is controlled such that the temperature does not rise to a degree which will scorch or burn the material of the bag. This heat aids in causing the crease folded bag top to remain in the folded position. The bag may be coated with a heat plastic or waxlike material which, when heated. will cause the adjacent folds clamped between the jaws 50 and 51 to adhere together, thus, providing a seal for the crease folded closure. Sealing of the closure, however, is not essential since the bag top has been crease folded in such a manner as to give an effective closure without the use of a seal.

The completed bag, when released from the jaws 50 and 51 by a return of the member 60 to its initial position, allowing the spring 56 to spread apart the jaws and release the bag top, is of the form shown in Fig. 9. The closed bag is then preferably packed in a suitable carton '71, as is shown in Fig. 10, for commercial distribution.

It will thus be seen that, in accordance with the present invention, a method of and a machine for closing bags, adapted to contain powdered or finely divided food material, such as gelatin, have been provided which attain the objects set forth above in an efficient and simple manner. The bag closure mechanism is simple and rugged in structure and produces sturdy and eillcient bag closures with a minimum number of operations. Since the mechanism, made in accordance with the present invention, is simple, the present machines may be easily equipped therewith with very little cost. Its ruggedness attains efficient operation over long periods of time without the likelihood of getting out of order, thus reducing repair expense, an item of some importance in machines in use at the present time. Fewer mechanism, parts and closure operations than is had with machines of the prior art assures more rapidity in forming the bag closures with a consequentsaving in time. The bag closures formed in accordance with and by the mechanism of the present invention are neat in appearance and are of strong and rigid construction which by test have been found to be sift-proof after being subjected to extreme shipping conditions, without the use of wire staples or other ancillary holding means.

Since certain changes in carrying out the above process and in the constructions set forth,

which embody the invention me be made without departing from its scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interrupted as illustrative and not in a limiting It isalso to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein'described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a bag closing machine, a pair of opposed members to press together the sides of the top of ,a filled bag and simultaneously to form a transverse crease in the resulting flattened top portion when said members are caused to approach each other by motion in a straight line. one of said membershaving a flat transverse face and an outwardly projecting portion providing a face substantially at right angles to the first mentioned face, and the other of said members having a flat face to cooperate with the first mentioned face to flatten the bag top, a notch to cooperate with the projecting portion on said first mentioned member to form a transverse crease in the bag top at the time that it is flattened and a projecting portion to overlie the second mentioned face of said first mentioned member to cooperate therewith to flatten the bag top beyond the transverse crease and aid in the formationof the latter.

2. In a bag closing machine, a pair of bag closing jaws having opposed cooperating faces, one of which is provided with a flat face and a transverse notch in the face thereof and the other of which is provided with a flat face and a wedge-shaped portion, said faces being adapted to press together the sides of the top of a filled bag and said notch and wedge-shaped por-- tion being adapted to cooperate to form a transverse crease therein when said opposed faces are having cooperating faces to press the sides of a bag top together, one of said jaws having a transverse wedge-shaped portion, a third jaw having a face to cooperate with a face of the wedgeshaped portion of one of the first mentioned jaws to form atransverse crease in the bag top after the latter has been flattened between the first mentioned pair of jaws.

5. ma bag closing machine, a pair of jaws having cooperating faces to press the sides of a bag top together and to simultaneously form a transverse crease in the flattened bag top, and another jaw having a face to cooperate with a portion of one of the first mentioned jaws to form an additional crease in the flattened bag top.

'6. In a bag closing machine, a pair of jaws reciprocatively mounted and having cooperating faces to press the sides of a bag top together and to simultaneously form a transverse crease in the .flattened bag top and anotherjaw pivotally mounted to move toward the first mentioned jaws and having a face to cooperate with a'portion of one of the first mentioned jaws to form an additional transverse crease inthe flattened bag top.

7. In a bag closing machine, a pair of jaws reciprocatively mounted for movement in the same plane, one of said jaws being provided with a substantially vertical face, a transverse notch and an adjacent projecting portion, the other of said laws being provided with a substantially vertical face to cooperate with the similar face of the other jaw to flatten the top of the bag therebetweenand a pair of transverse wedge-shaped portions, one of which cooperates with the transverse notch and projecting portion of the first mentioned jaw to form a transverse crease in thetop of a bag flattened between said jaws, and a third jaw pivotally mounted for movement toward the first mentioned jaws and having a face and a transverse notch therein to cooperate with the remaining transverse wedge-shaped portion of the second mentioned jaw to form an additional transverse crease in the flattened bag top.

8. In a bag closing machine, means for tucking inwardly the end portions of the top of a filled bag, means for simultaneously pressing the side portions of the bag top together and forming a transverse crease therein and additional means to cooperate with the second mentioned means for forming an additional crease in the flattened portion of the top of the bag.

9. In a bag closing machine, means-for tucking inwardly the end portions of a filled bag, opposed means for pressing the side portions of the bag together with the folded end portions dispqsed therebetween and for simultaneously forming a transverse crease therein and additional means to cooperate with one of the second mentioned means for forming an additional transverse crease in the flattened portion of the top of the bag while the latter is held between-the side pressing means.

10. In a bag closing machine, means for tucking inwardly the end portions of the top of a filled bag, means for pressing and creasingsimultaneously the side portions of the bag top together, and additional means to cooperate with the second mentioned means for additionally creasing the flattened portion of the top of the bag, the side pressing means operating while the end tucking means are maintained in position.

11. In a bag closing machine, a pair of jaws and a cooperating member to force a crease-folded portion of a previously flattened top of a filled bag between said jaws and to apply a clamping force to one of said jaws.

12. In a bag closing machine, a pair of jaws, one of which is pivotally mounted with respect to the other and cooperating means to force a creaserolded portion of a flattened bag top between said jaws and to apply force to the pivoted jaw to cause said jaws to clamp the crease folded portions of the bag top together.

, 13. In a bag closing machine, a support, a fixed jaw secured to said support, a movable jaw pivoted to said support and means to force a crease-folded portion of a flattened bag top between said jaws and to apply force to said pivoted jaw to cause said jaws to clamp the crease folded portions of the bag top together.

14. In a bag closing machine, a support, a fixed jaw mounted on said support,,a movable jaw pivoted to said support, a reciprocating member having means to force a crease-folded portion of a flattened bag top between said jaws and means to cooperate with a portion of said movable jaw to cause said jaws to clamp the crease-folded portions of the bag top together, at least one of said jaws being heated to aidthe clamping action of said jaws in permanently deforming a flattened bag top and insuring a secure closure thereof.

15. In a bag closing machine, a pair of relatively movable jaws, a movably mounted member, a projection on said member for forcing a creasefolded portion of a flattened bag top between said laws and means on said member to force said jaws together upon movement of said member.

16. In a bag closing machine, a pair of relatively movable jaws, a reciprocatively mounted member, aprojection on said member for forcing a crease-folded portion of a flattened bag top between said jaws and means on said member to cooperate with a cam face on one of said jaws to force said jaws together upon movement of said member. toward said jaws.

17. I a bag closing machine, a pair of relatively movable jaws, one of which is heated, a movable member, a projection on said member for forcing a crease-folded portion of a flattened bag top between said jaws and means on said member cooperating with means on one of said jaws to force said jaws together.

18. In a bag closing machine, a pair of jaws, one of which is pivotally mounted, heating means on one of said jaws, a reciprocatively mounted member, a projection on said member for forcing a crease-folded portion of a flattened bag top between said jaws, a cam face on said pivoted jaw and means on said member to cooperate with said cam face to force said jaws together upon movement of said member toward said jaws.

19. In abag closing machine, a support, a fixed jaw mounted on said support, a movable jaw pivoted on said support, a cam face on said pivoted jaw, a movably mounted member, a projection on said member for forcing a crease-folded portion of a flattened bag top between said jaws, and means on said member to cooperate with said cam face to force said jaws together.

20. In a bag closing machine, a fixed support, a fixed jaw mounted on said support, a movable jaw pivoted on said support, heating means on one of said jaws, a cam face on said pivoted jaw, a reoiprocatively mounted member, a projection on said member and a cam rider mounted on said member, said projection forcing a crease-folded portion of a flattened bag top between said jaws and said cam rider cooperating with said cam face to force said jaws together upon movement of said'member toward said jaws.

21. The method of forming a bag closure comprising pressing the sides of the top of an open bag together and simultaneously forming a transverse crease-fold therein, forming an additional crease-fold in the flattened portion of the bag top beyond the first mentioned crease-fold, lapping back the free end of the flattened bag top along the line of the last mentioned creasefold and applying pressure to the lapped portions of the flattened bag top to cause the lapped portions to maintain their relative positions and insure a secure closure.

22. The method of forming a bag closure comprising pressing the sides of the top of an open bag together and simultaneously forming a transverse crease-fold therein, forming an additional crease-fold in the flattened portion of the bag top beyond the first mentioned crease-fold, lapping under the free end of the flattened bag top along the line of the last mentioned creasefold and applying pressure and heat to the lapped portions of the flattened bag top to cause the lapped portions to maintain their relative positions and insure a secure closure.

23. The method of forming a bag closure comprising pressing the sides of the top of a filled bag together and simultaneously forming a crease fold therein to dispose the free end of the flattened top at substantially a right angle to the vertical walls of the filled bag, forming an additional crease-fold in the laterally disposed flattened top, lapping under the free end of the fiattened portionand applying pressure to the lapped portions to cause them to maintain their relative positions when the bag is freed from the closure forming mechanism.

24. The method of forming a bag closure comprising pressing the sides of the top of a filled bag together and simultaneously forming a creasefold therein to dispose the flattened bag top at substantially a right angle to the vertical walls of the filled bag forming an additional crease-fold in the laterally disposed flattened top, lapping under the free end of the flattened bag top, applying pressure to the lapped portions and sealing the lapped under end to the laterally disposed portion to cause the lapped portions to maintain their relative positions and inwre a secure closure.

25. The method of forming a bag closure which consists in folding in the ends of the bag top, pressing the sides of the top together with the folded in ends disposed therebetween, forming a transverse crease in the flattened bag simultaneously with the pressing of the sides of the p together, forming an additional crease in the flattened portion beyond the first mentioned crease turning under the free end along the line of the last mentioned crease and securing the turned under to the flattened bag top between the two creases to cause the lapped portions to maintain their relative positions and insure a secure closure.

26. The method of'forming a bag closure which consists in folding in-the ends of the bag top, pressing the sides of the bag top together with the folded in ends disposed therebetween and simultaneously forming a transverse crease-fold in the flattened bag top to dispose a portion thereof laterally, forming a crease-fold in the laterally extending portion lapping under the free end of the flattened portion along the last mentioned crease and applying pressure and heat to the lapped portions to cause the lapped portions to maintain their relative positions and insure a secure closure.

2'1. In a bag closing machine, a pair of bag closing jaws having opp sed cooperating faces, one of said jaws having a substantially flat transverse face and an outwardly projecting portion providing a slanting face adjacent said flat face and a third face substantially at right angles to the first mentioned face, and the other of said in the bag top after the latter has been flattened between the first mentioned pair of jaws, a second pair of relatively movable jaws, a movably mounted member, a projection on said member for advancing the creased portion of the flattened bag top between said jaws, and means to force said jaws together to cause the latter to apply a clamping force to the crease-folded portion of the bag top.

29. In a bag closing machine, a pair of jaws reciprocatively mounted and having cooperating faces to press the sides of a bag top together and simultaneously to form a transverse crease in the flattened bag top, another jaw pivotally molmted to move toward the first mentioned jaws and having a face to cooperate with a portion of one of the first mentioned jaws to form an additional transverse crease in the flattened bag top, a second pair of relatively movable jaws, a reciprocatively mounted member, a projection on said member for forcing the crease-folded portion of the flattened bag top between said jaws and means on said member to cooperate with a cam face on one of said jaws to force said jaws together upon movement of said member toward said jaws.

30. In a bag closing machine, a pair of jaws reciprocatively mounted for movement in a straight line, one of said jaws being provided with a substantially vertical face, a transverse notch and an adjacent projecting portion, the other of said jaws being provided with a substantially vertical face to cooperate with the similar face of the other jaw to flatten the top of the bag therebetween and a pair of transverse wedge-shaped portions, one of which cooperates with the transverse notch and projecting portion of the first mentioned jaw to form a transverse crease in the top of a bag flattened between said jaws, a third jaw pivotally mounted for movement toward the first mentioned jaws and having a face and a transverse notch therein to cooperate with the remaining transverse wedge-shaped Portion of the second I mentioned jaw to form an additional transverse crease in the flattened has top, a support, a fixed tioned jaws together.

GILBERT CARTER. 

